MCPS Announces Administrative Hires

At the meeting on May 17, the Montgomery County School Board approved several new hires, including the director of elementary education and assistant principals for CMS and EMHS.

Barbara Wickham was announced as the Director of Elementary Education. The position, effective July 1, was approved as a part of the reorganization of division leadership. Wickham previously served as the director of assessment for Campbell County Public Schools. She received a bachelor of science degree from Radford university and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Lynchburg College.

Melissa Hipple was approved as the Coordinator of School Counseling Services. Hipple previously worked for Northumberland County Public Schools and Caroline County Public Schools as a counseling director. She earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Penn State and a master’s degree in school counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Julie Craft was approved as the Supervisor of Instructional Technology. Craft has previously served as an instructional technology coordinator and as an instructional technology resource teacher in MCPS. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Radford University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech. The supervisor of instructional technology is a revised position, replacing the previous instructional technology coordinators.

Cheryl Burrell-Graves was approved as assistant principal at Christiansburg Middle and Andrew Hipple was approved as assistant principal at Eastern Montgomery High. Graves is currently a social studies teacher at Auburn Middle School, where she is both the principal’s designee and the history department chair. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in communications and from North Carolina Central University for middle grades education. She earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Nova Southeastern University.

Andrew Hipple currently serves as the principal at Essex High School in Essex County and at Colonial Beach High School in Colonial Beach. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education from Penn State and a master’s degree in educational administration from California University of Pennsylvania.

As the district moves forward with the reorganization of the district leadership, curriculum supervisors who serve in core content areas will now focus on only the core content area. Other competencies will be divided between the directors of elementary and secondary education or other staff members, as necessary. This renewed focus is reflected in updated job titles for these staff members. Their new titles will be Administrator of (subject area) Curriculum.

Montgomery County Public Schools does not discriminate in its programs and activities for reasons of race, religion, color, gender, national origin, disability, age, or on any other basis prohibited by law. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: